B Team round up: Broadwood stalemate

Hearts manager, Steven Naismith, made four changes to the side that lost to Cumbernauld Colts almost three weeks ago. Arron Darge, Callum Hambrook, Callum Sandilands, and Bobby McLuckie returned in place of, Finlay Pollock, Bailey Dall, Jaden Ferguson, and Mackenzie Ross.
 
The early stages saw Hearts confidently knocking the ball around when in possession and cutely pressing their opponents when out of possession.
 
There weren’t many chances in the opening twenty minutes or so, until Adam Forrester popped up with a goal out of nothing. A deep free kick from McLuckie was dropped by David Wilson and Forrester was the first to react to tap the ball home from close range.
 
Three minutes later, the Wee Jambos were handed an even bigger advantage. Murray Thomas was shown a yellow card for a robust tackle on the touchline which appeared to prompt a reaction from the already carded Evan Maley, who was shown a second yellow and sent for an early shower.
 
As you would expect, Hearts began to see more of the ball following the red card and the front three of Sandilands, McLuckie and Murray Thomas were causing chaos with their pace in behind.
 
The second almost arrived seven minutes before the break and it came from another very smart press from Hearts. McLuckie and Sandilands won possession back in the Broomhill box, but the latter could only fire his effort straight at Wilson.
 
The home side restored parity just three minutes into the second half when a deep cross from the right found Ryan Conroy charging in at the back to fire the ball past Harry Stone.
 
The Wee Jambos didn’t let that setback phase them however and continued to create chances. McLuckie almost restored Hearts’ lead after good running from Thomas but dragged his shot just wide.
 
Then on 79 minutes, another turning point. A scuffle saw Kirk Broadfoot and Thomas both booked and as the latter had already been cautioned, it was ten against ten for the remainder.
 
Hearts had three great chances to snatch it in the dying embers with Denholm and McLuckie both going close, before the former spurned the best opportunity of the three in stoppage time.
 
Hearts countered in numbers and when the ball was worked from left to right, Denholm was waiting, but after taking a touch to set himself, he sent his effort over the bar to ensure the spoils were shared.
 
Broomhill: Wilson, Grant, Broadfoot ©, McDonald, J. Semple (McCall, 74), Watson, Maley, Cook, Tierney (Fraser, 28), Wilson, Conroy (O’Sullivan, 70)
 
Subs: Barr, Glass, O’Sullivan, Fraser, McCaw, Lyle, K. Semple
 
Hearts: Stone, Watson, Darge ©, Tait, Denholm, Thomas, Forrester, Hambrook (Ross, 63), Rathie, Sandilands, McLuckie (Drysdale, 89)
 
Subs: Walker, Drysdale, Ross, Chisholm, Crookston

Meanwhile...

The Hearts B team and the U18’s, out of action, both without a game for two weeks, for obvious reasons, arranged a Friendly against Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts on the previous Saturday afternoon at the Oriam.

Coach Steven Naismith fielded the B team against their East of Scotland opponents in the first half, and despite dominating possession it was the visitors that took the lead on 24 minutes when Ex-Hearts youngster Brodie Strang fired home a shot from the edge of the box. Sixty seconds later Finlay Pollock equalised blasting home a Murray Thomas cross from close range. The visitors had a man sent off before Aidan Denholm gave Hearts the lead into first half injury time from a Harry Gordon assist.

Hearts made three changes at half-time and two of the newcomers added a third goal on 53 minutes, Callum Sandilands supplying the pass for Bobby McCluckie to steer the ball home. The Tynecastle side made a further raft of substitutions less than twenty minutes later with the U18’s almost replacing the B team and still retaining the bulk of possession without adding to the scoreline. A useful run-out and a 3—1 win for all the players involved.

HEARTS;  McFarlane (Stone 46), Forrester, Watson (Friel 60), Gordon (Chisholm 70), Tait (McCluckie 46), Rathie (Nair 60), Denholm ( Ross 60), Thomas (Duncan 70), Walker (Drysdale 60), Kirk (Hambrook 70), Pollock (Sandilands 46);      Sub Unused;  Ferguson